THE CHINESE BOYCOTT.

Waikato Independent, Volume II, Issue 132, 21 September 1905, Page 5

THE CHINESE BOYCOTT.

WHAT IT REALLY MEANS,

Behind the placing at New York on July 28th by a representative of the Chinese Government, for an order for four raid a half million dollars' worth of copper (rays an American paper) there lies a strange story of one of the secret methods of the Celestial Empire by which ib is being put on a firm war footing. This story is particularly significant in view of the present awakening movement that is sweeping through China, and the so-called American boycott and the insistence of China that it be given a voice in the settlement of the Russo-Japanese war are striking external evidences of this movement. It is understood that the order for approximately 30..C00,0C0 pounds of copper was placed with Senator W. A. Clark who owns the United Verde mine at Jerome, Arizona, one of the richest copper properties in the world.

This enormous purchase of the red metal is to be used by the new Chinese Government to make a new issue of coins, to supplant the brass money or " cash "as it is commonly called, which is now in general circulation throughout the empire. This "cash," of which it takes 840 pieces to make a dollar, is to oe called in by the Government, and at once converted into cartridges and other war munitions, It is estimated that there are millions of pounds of these " cash " coins in use in China, and that the Government expects to manufacture from them a formidable quantity of war material.

The plans of the Imperial Government are being handled with great secrecy, however, for it is feared that the open importation of large quantities of war munitions might arouse the hostility of the Powers and bring about some preventivo action. It is understood that the Chinese Government chose the ostensible change in the monetary system as a means of covering up its real purpose of an attempt towards armament.